The Cruachan Hills: Beinn a' Chochill (172) and Beinn Eunaich (156)

Walk date: 10/07/15

My Munro #'s: 272 and 273

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
Byn a' cho-chil - hill of the hood - 980m
Byn ayneech - fowling hill - 989m

Statistics:
Duration - 09:10 - 15:20

Distance -  18km
Total ascent -  1250m
Weather - dull from the start, then so wet and windy for Beinn Eunaich that turning back was seriously considered!!
Team - Paul P

Other hikers: none - just the farmer!

Hike week 2015 - Day 7 - Friday

On a good day these hills probably provide a nice jaunt out, having good fast access via farm tracks and not being too airy or rocky.  Today these features meant the hills were merely passable and even that was at a push for Beinn Eunaich!

With the cloud as low as it was we knew we weren't in for views but we were still up for it especially given the speed that the farm tracks afford you.  

Beinn a' Chochuill comes easy enough after leaving the farm tracks, although the initial ascent is not to be sniffed at.  The route onward to Beinn Eunaich is mostly grassy easy walking, but today that just meant quite exposed, although not as exposed as when we started to climb onto the rocky top of Beinn Eunaich.  By this stage the very wet weather was accompanied by very strong wind, and we got to the stage that if we hadn't been so damn close (last 100m) that we'd have turned around.  I remember vividly a nice natural nook in the rock that we used like troops under fire for a quick status report before making a run for it to the next shelter!  Phew, we just about made it!

With the weather as it was I had us start the descent early (red line on plot) over safe grassy slopes.  There was no path and it was very boggy, but I knew that with every metre down the weather would be getting better and it certainly paid off that way.

Battered but happy we paced it down the tracks again only to be met by the farmer who seemed quite baffled that anyone had gone up on this day.  Ironically, this night saw us go to our luxury night in the Bridge of Orchy Hotel who of course did not have a drying room!  Come back Glencoe Hostel - all if forgiven!!!

A long good farm track took us quickly up into the cloud:

Here we are!

The incline lessens as we near the top of Beinn a' Chochill:

Beautiful scenery on Beinn a' Chochill:

Bad, bad conditions on Beinn Eunaich means that this is our best shot!

Retreating back to the grassy ridge between the two:

Ironically, after our wettest day we had our 'luxury' night, which had no drying room!